Label grip finger mechanism



May 24, 1938. H E RUE 2,118,418

LABEL GRIP FINGER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 26. 1935 i INVENTOR. Harald' l' Klee,

Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED 'STATES y 2,118,418 LABEL GRIPy FINGER MECHANISM vHarold E. Rue, West Hoffman Beverage Co Orange, N. J., assigner to mpany, Newark, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey Application November 26, 1935, Serial No. 51,594

Claims.

This invention relates `to label grip finger mechanism and has particularreference to grip finger mechanism for use `on labelling machines for the purpose of holding the gummed label in proper position preparatory to securing it to a bottle or other container.

In a conventional bottlevlabelling machine, an adhesive picker abstracts two or more labels from appropriately spaced label stacks, swings into the path of movement of abottle on a conveyorlays the gummed labels at the proper places on the .surface of the bottle, and grip fingers move into contact with the labels to the .picker -is withdrawn, so that the labels are properly Vrheld preparatory to and while being secured to the surface of the bottle by the label wiping or brushing means. Standard containers, and bottles in particular, have many manui facturing irregularities, such as variations in the diam-eters of the body and the neck, variations in height, including theposition of the slope of the neck with respect to the body of the bottle, varia- 4tions in the slope of the neck of the bottle, and

,the like.

In an effort to compensate for these variations, it has been the practice-to loosely mount the grip lingers on the actuating arm, such as on horizontal pivots, and this expedient to a certain extent corrects for some .irregularities in the different bottles. At-the same time, however, this loose mounting of the grip fingers introduces other objections, principal among which is the dis- Kalignment of the body or neck label by the grip vfingers while ythey are adjusting themselves to `variations in the shape of the bottle.

Also, because the neck and body label grip fingers are in a relatively xed position withrespect to the actuating arm which carries them, it is common for one of them to engage the bottle before the other finger or fingers engage. it, with the result that the finger which engages first is applied with excessive pressure to the corresponding--labelasthe other finger or fingers are attempting to adjust themselves to the bottle, so that the first label is disaligned and frequently marred.

Furthermore, the actuating arm for the ,conventional grip finger arrangement is so connected to its driving mechanism, that when a bottle breaks on the labelling machine and fragments of glass are carried around by the conveyor and lodge behind the actuating arm it cannot beretracted, and not. only jams but frequently interferes with other parts o-f the machinery with consequent breakage or disalignment, which re- 55 quires that the machine be shut down for adjustment or repair, with a resulting loss of operating time.

In accordance with the present invention, a label grip finger mechanism is provided in which 60 the individual grip fingers are independently suphold them in place as .ported and bodily movable so as to automatically compensate for all manufacturing irregularities in different bottles and to engage each label on the bottle with uniform pressure, regardless of torn or disaligned by the grip finger mechanism during the labelling operation. Also, the new grip nger actuating mechanism is provided with a yielding driving connection adapted to adjust usual force opposing its normal movement, such as when a fragment of a broken bottle jams under it, with the result that the mechanism is not injured or placed out of adjustment during the normal operation of the labelling machine.

More particularly, the mechanism of this invention includes an oscillating drive shaft to labels are marred or with the result that no;V

itself to any un-E- which the grip finger supporting means is connected by means of a slip clutch, which, when there is resistance to movement of the grip finger x means, yields by slipping relatively supporting to the drive shaft so that the supporting means is not injured nor can the means obstruct or interfere with the other parts of the machine beor interference.

The grip finger supporting means comprises a plurality of separate arms, one for each grip finger, mounted on a common sleeve connected to the oscillating drive shaft mentioned slip joint, so that all of the arms are driven simultaneously as a unit. The connection of each arm to the sleeve is resilient, so that yeach arm, although positively driven in association with the other arm or arms, itself bodily to the ities in the shape of the bottle, and the resilient connection is such that a uniform pressure is applied to each label, regardless of such bottle irregularities and regardless of or others.

It will be seen ment of this invention, teristics of the avoided in that disalignment, marring or tearing of labels, due to the inability of the label grip finger mechanisms toadjust itself to variations in the bottle, no longer occur. Also the slip joint prevents injury to the operating parts. The new that with the simple arrangethe objectionable characthe `result of such resistancem is fre-e to adjustVv position required by irregular` ""35 the fact that, one finger may engage the bottle before the otherr conventional labelling machine is Fig. 3 is a transverse section as seen along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the multi part actuating arm, as seen along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,'

Fig. 5 is a section through one of the grip fingers, as seen Fig. 6 illustrates the gagement with a bottle.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, numeral l0 designates a horizontal drive shaft sultably supported in bearings, not shown, beneath the table II of the container labelling machine. ner end of shaft I is tted with a beveled gear i2 which meshes with beveled gear i 3 mounted on the `end of vertical shaft I4, which is oscillated by a cam or crank mechanism, not shown, so that shaft I0 is also oscillated.

Secured by set screw i Spring 2| urges sleeve I9 to the Fig. 2, so that studs I1 are rmly latter extending vertically. The ange i8 of sleeve I9 is provided with like lugs 25 and 26', shown in Fig. 3, also spaced substantially ninety degrees apart, the former extending horizontally and the latter extending vertically, so that they are aligned with lugs 25 and 26, respectively, of collar 24.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, extending between lugs 25 and 25 and secured at its opposite ends to each of them is a bar 21 of square cross section. Extending between lugs 26 and 25 and secured to each of them is a second bar 28 of square cross section provided with three spaced sockets 29 on its inner surface. Bars 21 and 28 serve to hold collar 24 and sleeve i9 together against relative rotation.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, three rings 30, 3| and 32 are journaled on sleeve I9 over appropriate bushings 33, 34 and 35, these bushings being L-shape that their radial anges serve as bearing surfaces between rings 3G, 3i and 32, and between ring 30 and flange I8 and ring 32 and collar 24. These rings are held together in lation between flange I8 of sleeve i9 and collar the manner described.

Each of the rings 30, 3l

locked in adjusted position by a small lock screw 38 threaded through lug 36. By adjusting set screw 31 the angular position of ring 3i with respect to sleeve i9 may be varied at will.

31 is forced into contact with bar 21. In this way ring 3I is resiliently secured to sleeve I9 and oscillates therewith as the sleeve is oscillated by drive shaft I0 in the manner described.

Secured by screws 43 in a recess in the face of ring 3l is a substantially vertically-extending arm 44, the upper end of which is directed at an angle to the left, as seen in Figf. Pivoted in a arm. 44 and the upper end of which is also directed at an angle to the left as seen in Fig. l. Pivoted in a Vertical plane on the tip of arm 49 by means of horizontal pin 50 is a the grip nger 5I is illustrated in the cross section of Fig. 5.

them. The particular arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4, slots 55 being oil grooves. Short arm 54 is provided below collar 55 with two lateral illustrated in Fig. 6. In operation, the label by means of 31 and the tension arms 44, 49 and 54 sponding spring studs 40.

The three arms 44, 49 and 54 move as a unit from a substantially horizontal position in a counterclockwise direction to the substantially y l slope ofthe corresponding .surfaces 3B. Similarly,

itself tothe'surface of thelbody of the ibottle 1B by pivoting about rpin 58 yand swinging at its corresponding neck band =body label lof vbottle B, respectively. Theineck 'Iband'grip finger 46 and neck label vgrip finger 5I :forded by gersf46,'5l and 6|, rient connection of vtheir arms lof corresponding springs 42.

44 will recede as shaft III and studs I1 out of their sockets in iright,'as seen in .permittedby spring 2l.

Aof the grip eating the :vertical position villustrated in Fig. 1, in which b, neck and 62 engagefthe label n, and

their grip ringer pads 45 and 50, the angle of of thebottle finger 6I 'adjusts fmove about their horizcntal pivots respectively,\to adjust themselves'to upper end in accordance with the lost motionsafthepin and slot combination 59, 55. Any manufacturing irregularities in the shapes ofthe differentv bottles B are compensated for by bodily movement of the corresponding grip finwhich is allowed by the'resil- 44, 49 and 54 resleeve I9 through lthe intermediary AAccordingly each necessary sto -spectively to grip finger arm gives as much as is yaccommodate any irregularities in the shape of the bottle, such 'different parts of the bottle, a different langle of as variations in diameter between Vslope of the neck, an uneven bottom, Auneven height, or the like. Also,'if oneof the grip fingers,

`such asineck band grip finger 46 should iengage the bottle before grip fingers 5I or 5I, its arm allowedby its spring 42 until fingers engage the bottle, so that all labels are engaged with a uniform pressure. Accordingly, with these :self-adjusting features, nolabels are marred or torn or disarranged because'of undue or uneven pressure of the grip fingers.

In the event the other grip that Va fragment of broken bottle or some other obstruction jams behind the corn- '.posite grip finger supporting means 44, 49, 54 during its retracting movement in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. l, slip clutch I'I, I8 releases, so that the driving connection between the grip nger supporting means lyields mechanism are broken n machine as a result-of the obstruction or interference by the broken bottle fragment, or the like. The slippage of the yclutch in the manner described is effected by a sort of cam action of the flange I8 and movement of sleeve I9 -to the Fig. 2, which axial movement is Mere manual movement finger arms 44, 4B and 54 is required to restore it to its. initial position and no further adjustment is necessary,. studs I'I properly loarms angularly on sleeve I9. Although a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described herein,it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited thereby but is susceptible to changes in the form and detail within the scope of the appended results in axial claims.

.I claim:

1. In va label grip finger mechanism for use in container labelling apparatus and the like, the

`combination of an oscillatable driving element, a

vplaceable relatively to the element in accordance combination of an oscillatable drivingelement, a plurality of individual label-gripping members supported on and carried bythe element and adapted to be moved into engagement with the containerby the element, and a tion between the members and the element, whereby the members are moved bodily individually and collectively by the element and are diswith resistance to their movement.

3. In a label grip finger mechanismzfor use in container labelling apparatus and the like, the combination of a driving element, a plurality of individual label-gripping members on the element adapted to be moved into engagement withV the container by the element, a yielding connection between the individual members and the element, vand a second yielding connection be- `tween the members collectively and the element,

move Vbodily individually' whereby the members and collectively in accordance with resistance to their movement by the element.

. 4. In a label grip finger mechanism for use in container labelling apparatus and the like, the combination of a driving element, a plurality of individual label-gripping members on the element adapted to be moved into engagement with the container by the element, a yielding connection betweenthe members and the element, and a yielding connection between each individual member and the first yielding connection, wheren by the members move bodily individually and collectively in accordance with resistance totheir movement by the element.

5. In a label grip finger mechanism for use on container labelling apparatus and the like, the `combination of an oscillatable driving element, a plurality of individual label-gripping members supported on and carried by the element and adapted to be moved into engagement with the container by the element, and a resilient connection between each member and the element whereby the individual members are normally movable with the element and bodily self-ad justable relatively to each other and the element in their engagement with the corresponding label on the container to compensate for irregularities in the container.

6. In a label grip finger mechanism for use on container labelling apparatus and the like, the combination of an oscillatable driving element, a plurality of arms carried by the driving element and simultaneously driven thereby, a label gripping member on each'arm for engaging a corresponding label on-the container, and a resilient connection between each arm and the driving element whereby the individual members are bodily movable with the element and self-adjustable relatively to each other and the element in their engagement with the corresponding la bel on theA container to compensate for irregularities in the container.

'7. In a label grip finger mechanism for use on container labelling apparatus and the like, the combination of an oscillatable driving element, a plurality of individual label gripping members movably mounted on and carried by the element, and resilient means forming a driving connection between each member and the element and normally causing the members to move in unison with the element, whereby the individual members lare bodily self-adjustable relatively to each other in Ytheir engagement with the corresponding label on the container to compensate for irregularities in the container.

flexible connec- Eso 8. In a label grip linger mechanism for use to allow the element to move independently of on container labelling apparatus and the like, the the arm.

pensate for irregularities in the container. is effective to release the arm from the element 10 on container labelling apparatus and the like, the sistance to movement.

combination of an oscillatable driving element, 16. In a label grip nger mechanism for use a plurality of label-gripping members Carried by on container labelling apparatus and the like, and movable bodily with the element, and resilient the combination of a support, an oscillating 15 each other in their engagement with the corre-V shaft, a label-gripping member loosely mounted Spending label O11 the Container to compensate on each arm and a slip clutch in the drive of said'y 20 for irregularities in the container. armsl0. In a label grip finger mechanism for use 17. In a label grip finger mechanism for use a plurality a plurality Of label-Sllpplllg of label-grip members operatively connected t0`925 connection with the corresponding labels 0n the Container and to said element, said parts being relatively 30 mounted thereon, a plurality 0f label-gripping the combination of a driving element a plurality35 the shaft, whereby the individual members are eeen ann and tn self-adjustable in their engagement with the corindependently movable a label gn responding labels on the container to compensate loosely mounted 0n eeen arm, and means for 40 for irregularities in the container. s

12. In a label grip nger mechanism for use erm angular movement on the shaft, a slip clutch 50 in their adjusted positions.

13. In a label grip linger mechanism for use ment, a plurality of label-gripping members carried by and movable t 'th the element, means n l e for adjusting the angular positions of the individon Co tain r. la'beumg apparatus and the hke ual members relatively to each other and to the angular movement on the shaft, adjacent ilanges"V80 14. In a label grip finger mechanism for use 65 on container labelling apparatus and the like, the 10 rrespondmg sockes whereby the shaft and the and clutch means Connecting l511e element and lIlle to permit relative angular movement between the 70 member and responsive to a predetermined reshaft and sleeve upon a predetermined resistsistance to movement of the arm for breaking ance to the movement of said fingers.

the connection between the arm and the element HAROLD E. RUE.

ment of said arms, 45 

